Restaurant Review: India Today

The buzz: Maybe you thought, like I did, that Tauranga didn't need another Indian restaurant when India Today opened up on The Strand in September last year. Now I know this restaurant offers something different, and it starts with an exciting menu. We were also pleasantly surprised by the decor. The interior designer did a great job.

The staff: We were warmly welcomed by owner Deep and his sister-in-law, Aman, who manages the restaurant. Deep and his waiters were dressed in beautiful Kurta, a traditional dress worn by Indian men, which increased the ethnic feel of our dining experience. We asked lots of questions about the food, the spices and the interior, and were impressed by the team's knowledge and friendly manner.

On the menu: Curries of course, but there is a lot more to choose from. There are interesting salads on the menu and even mashed potatoes and cottage cheese. There are plenty of vegetarian options, too.

We share: A little bit of everything on a Mixed Platter for Two ($20.90). We were served samosa, pakora, chicken tikka and sheesh kebab on a sizzling plate accompanied by three well-matched sauces. The sheesh kebab, skewered lamb infused with spices and cooked over the tandoor, was my favourite.

I'll have: The Biryani Chicken ($19.99), a traditional Muglia dish with rice and spices served with a yoghurt sauce. It was a good choice - nice and spicy. For dessert, I had Mango Kulfi, home-made Indian icecream.

He'll have: Deep suggested the Chef's Special ($21.99), roasted beef cooked with cumin, ginger, garlic and coriander, and finished with Indian Whiskey. Deep explained that Indian Whiskey is good only for cooking, so my friend got a Tiger beer instead.

For the adventurous: I can't remember ever seeing scallops before on the menu of an Indian restaurant. At India Today, you can order scallops grilled with tandoori spice, served with a mint and coriander sauce as an entree ($15). Their seafood menu also boasts butter scallops, cooked in creamy tomato sauce, garnished with sliced almonds ($24.99).

Price range: If you are on a budget, I can certainly recommend India Today. You'll have a nice restaurant experience and a good meal without spending a fortune. Most of the menu choices are under $20.

The verdict: We enjoyed our meals and Deep's hospitality, and we'll certainly visit again. But what I am most excited about is that India Today delivers. A good restaurant that brings food to your door is exactly what Tauranga needs. Deliveries depend on how busy they are and the surcharge depends on what you order and where you live. I'll definitely call the next time I don't feel like cooking.

The details:

India Today

81 The Strand, Tauranga

Contact: 577 6518;

www.indiatoday.co.nz

Opening hours: Lunch: 11am to 2pm; dinner: 5-10pm. Open 7 days.

India Today will be serving a selection of their spicy delicacies at Flavours in the Bay, The Bay of Plenty Times' Wine & Food Festival to be held on Saturday, March 10 at Blake Park.